Question Trying to find replacement fans for my EVGA RTX 2060 Super SC Black ACX 3.0

[Cyber_Akuma]

I have a EVGA 2060 Super (Model Number 08G-P4-3062-KR) and the fans have been making a grinding noise:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLUOB9xM-5E


I disassembled the card and found that the fans are model number "PLA09215B12H", they look like this:

https://imgur.com/xo3hvN1

View: https://i.imgur.com/xo3hvN1.jpg


However, when attempting to lookup that model number there is all sorts of sketchy results.

First of all, these fans are hard-wired together (They were a PAIN to remove, going to be a bigger pain to get the new ones back in there), yet the majority of the results showed either a single fan, or two separate fans. Those would definitely not work as there is only a single fan header on the card.

And of the ones that did have two connected together (some hard-wired, some daisy-chained) some seemed to have the wrong shape/size blades, and none of them have the EVGA logo embedded on the blades which makes me suspect they are cheap aftermarket fans. Most of the results were from sites that could not possibly sound more sketchy such as gpufanreplacement.com or gpu-fan.com (with the majority of their results being the wrong fan).

Even attempting eBay seemed to mostly give me the same results, just cheaper.

Any recommendations on where I can get proper replacement fans for my card? Or if any of the clearly non-official fans are any good? Having them be daisy-chained with a connector and not be hard-wired together would make them significantly easier to wire back in, but I have a feeling those are probably lower quality fans.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Probably nowhere, since EVGA has stopped making graphics cards entirely which means they have also stopped making replacement parts, entirely. RMA and replacement part stock is likely largely or entirely depleted at this point except for maybe some models from the 3000 series, and even that is really doubtful since it's been over two years since the 4000 series released and EVGA stopped making graphics cards about two months prior to that release date.

What that leaves you with is basically NO OEM replacement parts, so you are unlikely to find exact replacements unless you buy an entire used card of a model that happens to use the exact same fan assembly, and then you're rolling the dice on the idea that the fans on that card haven't already seen most of their useful life pass by. Other replacement parts are likely going to only be available in single fan models that have to be wired into the existing harness. I mean, it's certainly possible you might find something, but realistically given the fact that EVGA stopped production two years ago and that the 2000 series card production mostly ended back in 2021. They continued producing the 2060 until that time but other models had been discontinued maybe 6 months earlier. The Super models were not included in those late production runs in 2021 to the best of my knowledge.

I will look around to see if I can find anything as well but since you've already looked and seem to have a decent idea of what you are looking for, I'm not particularly hopeful.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I can tell you for sure the one on Amazon seen here, are fake, and are not even the same fans. You can tell easily by the shape of the fan blades and the fact that the ones on Amazon do not have a date code stamped on them like yours do. Hell, they even say MSI on the front of the fan.

Amazon.com

Also, fake, not even the same part number on the label of the fan itself.

Amazon.com

Fake.

Power Logic PLA09215B12H Fan - Black for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Power Logic PLA09215B12H Fan - Black at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

MIGHT be suitable.

EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 SC2 GAMING Fan Replacement Model: PLA09215B12H

EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 SC2 GAMING Fan Replacement. Model: PLA09215B12H, Voltage: DC 12V, Current: 0.55A, Fan Diameter: 87mm, Mounting holes distance: 42mm, Power Connector: 4 Pin, Long cable length: 125mm, Short cable length: 90mm. Compatible with: EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 SC2 GAMING.

www.gpufanreplacement.com

Fake.

https://www.newegg.com/p/1DR-002T-00146

Might be suitable but are definitely user modified as the originals did not use shrink tubing over the cables. This is likely user made part where they patched them together and then shrink tube the connection like I said was likely necessary. Looks right though and fans have date code, but, date code is even older than your fans.

EVGA PLA09215B12H GTX1060 GTX1070 GTX1080 VGA GPU 4-pin Fan Replacement Video | eBay

Compatible Part Number: PLA09215B12H. EVGA GTX1070. EVGA GTX1060. EVGA GeForce GTX 1080. 87mm 87mm 12mm (Center to Center). 1 Pair x Fan. Mounting holes distance: approx. 42mm 42mm 42mm (Center to Center).

www.ebay.com

Probably your bearings are dry. You could TRY to simply lubricate the bearings and might not need to replace them at all.

Keep ‘Em Spinning: How To Lubricate PC Fans - Overclockers

Wouldn't you like to be able to use a sleeve bearing fan and not have to worry about your CPU overheating? Read on to learn how to lubricate PC fans to do just that.

www.overclockers.com

 

[Cyber_Akuma]

The ones you posted that are single-fans like the first and fourth ones are definitely not right, since those are separate fans and my two fans are just hard-wired together.

 

[Darkbreeze]

You're not going to find any that are exact replacements. They are simply not out there to find unless you find old ones off a card somebody is parting out and again, that's rolling the dice that the fans will be any better than yours or not die two weeks later. Also, I've no idea what you are talking about when you say the "fourth ones" are "separate fans". Yours are separate fans too, it's just that the cables are manufactured to be together from the factory while the ones I linked to are the OEM replacements, individually, that have been user modified to ALSO be a single connection just like the original ones.

If you are only going to be happy if you find brand new OEM style ones exactly like what you took off, then you might as well just throw the card in the trash because it is NOT going to happen. You can get the right fans, and you can get them with a harness that has been user or aftermarket company manufactured to be a single lead that feeds both fans via a split cable that has been patched together, but you are not going to find an identical original equipment replacement because it has just been too long since they were remanufactured.

And if you DO find it, it is likely going to be the same age or older than what you have now, and used. That is just the way it is, and that is the way it USUALLY is for older cards.

 

[Cyber_Akuma]

lso, I've no idea what you are talking about when you say the "fourth ones" are "separate fans". Yours are separate fans too, it's just that the cables are manufactured to be together from the factory while the ones I linked to are the OEM replacements, individually, that have been user modified to ALSO be a single connection just like the original ones.

The first link (The Amazon one) shows a single fan:

and the fourth link (The gpufanreplacement.com one) shows two separate fans that are not connected together in any way:

If you are only going to be happy if you find brand new OEM style ones exactly like what you took off, then you might as well just throw the card in the trash because it is NOT going to happen. You can get the right fans, and you can get them with a harness that has been user or aftermarket company manufactured to be a single lead that feeds both fans via a split cable that has been patched together, but you are not going to find an identical original equipment replacement because it has just been too long since they were remanufactured.

I know, when I said proper replacement fans I meant ones that would at least not be something shoddy and likely to fail quickly, not that they absolutely have to be OEM replacements.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Factually, the majority of ALL these fans regardless of what brand or label is on them are made in only a couple of Chinese manufacturing plants. The problem with some of these fans isn't that they are poor quality really, although that's always a possibility as well, it's that the fin design isn't even correct for the model that they are supposed to be, which clearly tells you that they are "fake" and likely don't work, or won't work to the same level of noise and performance as the original fans. The ones that I listed as "might" are at least the correct fin design and seem to be direct replacements based on specifications and assumed model numbers.

Without buying a complete assembly directly from EVGA you won't find any replacement fans that are already pre-wired together unless somebody has done that themselves, or you buy a complete replacement cooler that includes fans, bracket, harness, etc, and looking around that too does not seem to be available anywhere not even used. Much of the problem is that this specific cooler setup was also used on many of the older 1000 series cards so there has been a demand for replacement parts for both the 1000 AND 2000 series models which would tend to quickly deplete any reserves that might have existed when EVGA slammed the door. So if you want to replace those fans you are either going to have to buy individual fans and wire them together using the existing section of connector from your current fans from just before it splits into two cables, or buy one that somebody has already done this with which is probably going to mean getting used fans and personally I'd much rather buy two new fans and wire them together than spend good money on something that might only last two weeks, or two months, or whatever, because they are used.

If you feel you are unable to do this yourself, and it's really not rocket science, then buy two fans and take them to any electronics repair shop and have them wire them together for you then reinstall them yourself. Shouldn't cost more than maybe ten or twenty bucks to get a shop to do this but honestly it's a very simple process. And aside from fan assemblies from VERY recent releases, this is basically what almost everybody has to do for cards that are more than a couple years old.

 

[The Historical Fidelity]

Factually, the majority of ALL these fans regardless of what brand or label is on them are made in only a couple of Chinese manufacturing plants. The problem with some of these fans isn't that they are poor quality really, although that's always a possibility as well, it's that the fin design isn't even correct for the model that they are supposed to be, which clearly tells you that they are "fake" and likely don't work, or won't work to the same level of noise and performance as the original fans. The ones that I listed as "might" are at least the correct fin design and seem to be direct replacements based on specifications and assumed model numbers.

Without buying a complete assembly directly from EVGA you won't find any replacement fans that are already pre-wired together unless somebody has done that themselves, or you buy a complete replacement cooler that includes fans, bracket, harness, etc, and looking around that too does not seem to be available anywhere not even used. Much of the problem is that this specific cooler setup was also used on many of the older 1000 series cards so there has been a demand for replacement parts for both the 1000 AND 2000 series models which would tend to quickly deplete any reserves that might have existed when EVGA slammed the door. So if you want to replace those fans you are either going to have to buy individual fans and wire them together using the existing section of connector from your current fans from just before it splits into two cables, or buy one that somebody has already done this with which is probably going to mean getting used fans and personally I'd much rather buy two new fans and wire them together than spend good money on something that might only last two weeks, or two months, or whatever, because they are used.

If you feel you are unable to do this yourself, and it's really not rocket science, then buy two fans and take them to any electronics repair shop and have them wire them together for you then reinstall them yourself. Shouldn't cost more than maybe ten or twenty bucks to get a shop to do this but honestly it's a very simple process. And aside from fan assemblies from VERY recent releases, this is basically what almost everybody has to do for cards that are more than a couple years old.

Listen to Darkbreeze! He has been an amazing resource on these forums for a long time.

 

[Cyber_Akuma]

Installed the replacement fans, and they aren't spinning at all. Great, they were a total %$^@#% to install too. Any ideas what might prevent them from working at all?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Board is fracked.

 

[Cyber_Akuma]

It's outputting video just fine, the new fans just aren't spinning.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Maybe do the Linus method and take the fans off, zip tie a couple of case fans on there and hook those to fan headers on the motherboard and use your board to set them to an rpm you can accept that keeps the card cool and won't bother you.

 

[Cyber_Akuma]

I can't, the board's fan headers are all used and proprietary.

 

[kerberos_20]

if its just grinding, cant you just lube it? that grinding is just either dried oil or oil got dusty
there are many videos on youtube on how to lube pc electric fan

 

[Cyber_Akuma]

GPU fans are a little different though. Any good videos on how the do that on these fans?

 

[kerberos_20]

GPU fans are a little different though. Any good videos on how the do that on these fans?

its same as notebook fans, time at 5:50

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3zs_SJ3BXgA

 

[Cyber_Akuma]

Ok, so to make sure the card itself was not busted I took it apart again and tried connecting the old fans... and they worked. I was going to try to refurbish the old fans like in that video, but decided to just once again test out the new fans... and those worked too. It was going to be a PAIN attempting to re-route t5he thicker wire inside the card again, so I just routed it on the outside. It's ugly, but it works so I don't care.

However, now there is a sort of "heat" smell coming from it. I am pretty sure I didn't smell that before, but I guess I never really paid attention before I took it apart so it might have been there from the start. It's not a burning smell, but more like, the smell a heating element like a space heater or a clothes dryer or something would make. Is that normal?

The GPU appears to be running slightly colder than it used to as well, although it's also gotten colder around here since I last tested it so that might be a contributing factor.

 

[Eximo]

That smell is probably just outgassing from the plastics due to them getting warm. If there is a motor winding in there producing a lot of heat, it will be a shortlived fan. Just keep an eye on it.